Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-28
WILL NOT ARBITRATE.
The Superintendent Denies He Agreed I,
ArbItrate.

The Superintendent Denies He Agreed to
ArbItrate.
PHILADELPHIA, December 27.-General
Superintendent Sweigard said this morning
that the statement that he had agreed with
the Knights Of Labor to submit the qles-
tions in dispute to arbitration was inCor-
rect. He said that last evening commit
tee representing employees Of the company,
called at his Office and he talked with them
briefly regarding the threatened strike. He
held out no inducements TO the men, how
ever, and would listen to no proposition
which had for its object the reinstatement
of the men who had been discharged for
refusing to deliver ears to Taylor elevator
These men, he said, have been discharged,
and will never again he employed
by the company. DE says no
agreement was proposed, either by the
committee or by him, and that the com
mittee left when he informed them that he
would hold no conversation regarding the
discharged men.
The reporter at this point asked Mr..
Sweigard whether he proposed TO take up
the Port Richmond difficulty and submit
any questions involved therein to arbitra-
tion, To which he tersely replied: There
is nothing to submit"
There is one thing in connection with
this subject that may ~ we'll he disposed
OF while we are on it. The employees, or
some OF them, have accused the company
of not living up to Article l3 of the agree
ment entered into with the nen last
winter, which was to the effect that no man
should be discharged without first being
given hearing. Well, about two months
ago three brakemen refused TO 90 out on u
| train because one OF the men, q conductor,
was not Knight of Labor. discharged
the three men, and when committee
called on me and begged for their rein
statement, | told them that the company
did not propose to re-emplOy men who
left their work under such circumstances.
The committee, consisting of John Lee,
Cahill and Sharkey, followed Inc all over
Port Richmond and pleaded their cause
Finally, agreed to reinstate the men after
a suspension of three months upon this
condition: That the committee should go
before every assembly OF the order
and say to the members that hereafter
any emplOye who refused to perform duty
when ordered by an official, such employe
should he discharged, and they (the X. of
| |. should not appoint any committee to
seek an adjustment OF the matter or 1e-
quire an explanation. Now, when | in-
| trusted the men at Port Richmond to
deliver the cars consigned TO the Taylor
elevator and they refused, | discharged
them in conformity with the agreement,
and ;his fully answers the complaint in re-
gard to article l3 Every man who has
been discharged will remain discharged
never again to be employed by this com
pany.'
| THE ARBITRATION STORY FALSE.
General Manager Mcleod, of the Phila-
delphin aud Reading Railroad Company,
this afternoon made the following public
announcer ept
"The report that the Reading Company
| had agreed tO aIbitTate with its striking
employees is absolutely false There is
nothing to discuss, much less arbitrate.
| The men discharged were not aud will not
be taken back. The new men employed
when the old once went out will not he
discharged tn make room for old ones, and
all the latter have been notified that il
they desire to retain their places they must
return to work Immediately and unCondi-
tionally, aud all have returned under that
order 30 tar ~ places were left for them,
besides the leaders at Port Richmond, who
brought on the strike, have been dis
charged and will not be allowed again in
the cOmpany's service"